Jeff Ireland...Most Important non-gameday Personnel (IMHO)
The Dallas Cowboys' third straight losing season has fans of America's Team feeling a little less "patriotic." But Baylor's all-time leading field goal kicker Jeff Ireland is working overtime to make sure the fortunes of Da Boys change, even though he never steps on a field again.
Ireland, who kicked for Baylor from 1988-91, is the Cowboys' national scouting director, responsible for fanning across the country to discover the next best NFL prospects.
When the Cowboys make the fifth overall selection in the 2003 NFL draft on April 26-27 in New York City, the player chosen most likely will be a product of Ireland's ongoing talent search.
"I love being in football, watching players live and on tape, still being involved in the game," he said. "My job is to know every aspect of a player's career. It's a major investment for our team."
Ireland, 33, has been working for the Cowboys in their scouting department since 2001. Before then, he spent four years with the Kansas City Chiefs and three with the NFL scouting combine.
He left Baylor in 1992, one class short of a degree. When he wasn't drafted to play ball, the Abilene native spent a brief time in the business world and then as the kicking coach at the University of North Texas before becoming an NFL scout.
"Jeff came highly recommended from our scouts because of his hard work, and we've been pleased," said Larry Lacewell, the Cowboys' vice president of scouting and player personnel director. "You have to be disciplined scouting on the road because there is nobody watching you all the time. You have to be a people person because you're in the business of gathering information from people," he said.
It's a job that keeps Ireland on the road. Last year, he was in 29 states, on both coasts and at 40 different schools looking for top players the Cowboys can select in this year's draft. In last year's draft, Dallas picked Ireland-recommended University of Oklahoma safety Roy Williams in the first round. Williams earned all-rookie honors and Ireland's selection of Williams was featured in Sports Illustrated (April 21, 2002). But the search for new and talented Dallas Cowboys never ends, Ireland said.
"I'm usually in a different school every day with the same routine. I'll watch tape from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m., or whenever they kick me out. I'll watch practice, talk with the trainer, talk with the assistant coaches and talk with the head coach if I get a chance. I'll write up a report, give each player a grade and start all over again. It makes for long days and short nights," he said.
One person who's not surprised at Ireland's success in pro scouting is former Baylor head coach Grant Teaff. He recruited Ireland as a receiver and then moved him to kicker, where he scored a record 18 field goals in a single season, including a 58-yarder against Rice. Teaff said Ireland has what it takes to make a contribution in the pro scouting ranks.
"He sees more than just talent, there are a lot of talented people who don't make it in the NFL. You have to have character and ethics, and Jeff has plenty of both," Teaff said.
The Cowboys' recent 5-11 season prompted a change at head coach, but even with the disappointing record, Ireland said the Dallas scouts are able to see the bright side.
"Nobody is happy with the record, but when you see your draft picks doing well, that makes you feel good because you've played a part. Not just Roy (Williams), but we had several rookies who played very well last year," he said.
Ireland said finding the future stars of pro football is almost as exciting for him as making those key field goals at Baylor - something he did 45 times in his college career, along with 78 extra points, making him the third best scorer in Baylor history. "When I was in school, I was your basic flaky kicker. I played all the games on the sidelines," he said. "The coaches never knew what I was thinking."
As for his nondrafted status, the NFL talent judge said the verdict on his playing ability was an accurate one. "Nondrafted free agent. That was me."
Ireland, who kicked for Baylor from 1988-91, is the Cowboys' national scouting director, responsible for fanning across the country to discover the next best NFL prospects.
When the Cowboys make the fifth overall selection in the 2003 NFL draft on April 26-27 in New York City, the player chosen most likely will be a product of Ireland's ongoing talent search.
"I love being in football, watching players live and on tape, still being involved in the game," he said. "My job is to know every aspect of a player's career. It's a major investment for our team."
Ireland, 33, has been working for the Cowboys in their scouting department since 2001. Before then, he spent four years with the Kansas City Chiefs and three with the NFL scouting combine.
He left Baylor in 1992, one class short of a degree. When he wasn't drafted to play ball, the Abilene native spent a brief time in the business world and then as the kicking coach at the University of North Texas before becoming an NFL scout.
"Jeff came highly recommended from our scouts because of his hard work, and we've been pleased," said Larry Lacewell, the Cowboys' vice president of scouting and player personnel director. "You have to be disciplined scouting on the road because there is nobody watching you all the time. You have to be a people person because you're in the business of gathering information from people," he said.
It's a job that keeps Ireland on the road. Last year, he was in 29 states, on both coasts and at 40 different schools looking for top players the Cowboys can select in this year's draft. In last year's draft, Dallas picked Ireland-recommended University of Oklahoma safety Roy Williams in the first round. Williams earned all-rookie honors and Ireland's selection of Williams was featured in Sports Illustrated (April 21, 2002). But the search for new and talented Dallas Cowboys never ends, Ireland said.
"I'm usually in a different school every day with the same routine. I'll watch tape from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m., or whenever they kick me out. I'll watch practice, talk with the trainer, talk with the assistant coaches and talk with the head coach if I get a chance. I'll write up a report, give each player a grade and start all over again. It makes for long days and short nights," he said.
One person who's not surprised at Ireland's success in pro scouting is former Baylor head coach Grant Teaff. He recruited Ireland as a receiver and then moved him to kicker, where he scored a record 18 field goals in a single season, including a 58-yarder against Rice. Teaff said Ireland has what it takes to make a contribution in the pro scouting ranks.
"He sees more than just talent, there are a lot of talented people who don't make it in the NFL. You have to have character and ethics, and Jeff has plenty of both," Teaff said.
The Cowboys' recent 5-11 season prompted a change at head coach, but even with the disappointing record, Ireland said the Dallas scouts are able to see the bright side.
"Nobody is happy with the record, but when you see your draft picks doing well, that makes you feel good because you've played a part. Not just Roy (Williams), but we had several rookies who played very well last year," he said.
Ireland said finding the future stars of pro football is almost as exciting for him as making those key field goals at Baylor - something he did 45 times in his college career, along with 78 extra points, making him the third best scorer in Baylor history. "When I was in school, I was your basic flaky kicker. I played all the games on the sidelines," he said. "The coaches never knew what I was thinking."
As for his nondrafted status, the NFL talent judge said the verdict on his playing ability was an accurate one. "Nondrafted free agent. That was me."
posted by The Gryphon at 8:31 PM
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